From Sam's View

My student aid, Sam, is involved with many campus activities including intramurals, working on campus, Sigma Chi Fraternity, working as an AIA (Ambassador in Admission-- tour guide), student overnight host... and in a new weekly feature, "From Sam's View," Sam talks about his major, International Economics and Cultural Affairs (IECA). Weekly, Sam will discuss Valparaiso's Campus from his perspective.
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The IECA major is a major full of diversity. Not only in the classes that you are required to take but also in the job

opportunities that would arrive. With IECA you will take a wide range of courses, from Poli Sci to History to Economics classes. IECA majors must pick an area in the world in which they would preferably like to work. This area also determines the foreign language that the student must take. For instance a student that wants to work in China will study Mandarin Chinese.

Foreign language courses are a big part of the IECA major because students will not only be able to correspond with the people that they are working with overseas, but they will have a better understanding of the culture and traditions of that area. Another way in which many IECA students obtain that cultural understanding is by studying abroad in the country of their choice.

As I said earlier an IECA major is ideal because the focus on foreign languages opens up an international market for your job search. An IECA major can go to work for the State Department, work in Public Relations, work overseas for an American Company and of course there is always grad. school. Go here to see more information on this major (http://valpo.edu/ieca/index.php).

New Engineering Center to Advance Innovation

Engineering students at Valparaiso University will gain additional opportunities to develop and practice their engineering skills in the Donald V. Fites Engineering Innovation Center, a new facility designed to advance the University’s position as a leader in providing a comprehensive education for future engineering leaders.

Work on the $13 million building project was recently approved by the University’s Board of Directors and is scheduled to begin in March, with completion expected in time for students and faculty to occupy it by the beginning of fall 2011 semester.

The Donald V. Fites Engineering Innovation Center will enhance the unique, innovative and creative experiences available to students in Valpo’s College of Engineering (http://www.valpo.edu/engineering) while also being the first building on campus to receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

Dr. Kraig Olejniczak, dean of the College of Engineering, said the Donald V. Fites Engineering Innovation Center is focused on the needs of students.

“This new facility will support the tradition of Valpo engineers being technically competent, possessing a sound foundational knowledge of engineering theory, while also being able to design experiments and gain hands-on experience,” Dr. Olejniczak said.

The Donald V. Fites Engineering Innovation Center will be attached to the south side of Gellersen Center, home to Valpo’s College of Engineering and Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. The addition will cover approximately 13,500 square feet and include additional laboratory and learning spaces for Valpo’s undergraduate engineering students.

Dr. Olejniczak said the new Center will include significant space for Valpo’s engineering students to work on multidisciplinary design projects at all class levels, including pods similar to the spaces found in high-tech business incubators. That flexible space will be especially beneficial, he said, for senior electrical, mechanical, computer and civil engineering students. All senior engineering students participate in team design projects that provide a capstone experience in which they develop creative solutions to engineering challenges.

“The Center will provide a setting that simulates the environment in which our students will be working once they graduate,” he said. “Our students are involved in design projects that can improve people’s lives, and we look forward to having a facility that enhances the opportunities for students to be in a setting where they can practice creative problem solving and gain management expertise.”

In addition to the new space in the Donald V. Fites Engineering Innovation Center, the project includes the renovation of approximately 4,300 square feet of existing facilities in Gellersen Center.

“The College of Engineering has continuously advanced its programming over the years, and our students and faculty have increasingly gained national recognition for their accomplishments,” Dr. Olejniczak said. “The new Engineering Innovation Center provides well-equipped labs and first-rate facilities to go along with our outstanding faculty, supporting Valpo’s place as a leader in undergraduate engineering education.”

The new facility is named for 1956 Valpo engineering graduate Donald V. Fites, former chairman and CEO of Caterpillar Inc. and a member of the University’s Board of Directors, who provided a lead gift for the project.

“My Valparaiso University engineering education was the platform from which I built a highly satisfying life and career,” Fites said. “Technical excellence was, and continues to be, a given in VU’s engineering college, but the real value that sets Valpo apart is the personal attention and dedication that the faculty and staff devote to each student. When one combines that with the character-building opportunities available on campus not found at larger schools, I believe you have a formula that maximizes an individual’s chances for success.”

Numerous Valpo engineering graduates have gone on to work for Caterpillar, and in fall 2008 the College of Engineering was the third-ranking supplier of engineers to the company. Caterpillar and Valpo alumni who are current or former employees of the company provided more than $5 million in gifts supporting the project.

“Many Valpo engineers have gone on to outstanding careers at Caterpillar, one of the world’s preeminent firms for engineers,” Dr. Olejniczak said. “That’s an outstanding indicator of how highly-sought Valpo engineers are for both their technical skills and leadership abilities.”

Funds for the Donald V. Fites Engineering Innovation Center were raised during Valpo’s “Our Valpo, Our Time” comprehensive campaign, which concluded in June 2009 and raised more than $238 million. (Article provided by University's Campus Chronicle)

This weeks campus happenings...

I hope this note finds you doing well!

A quick highlight about some fun and exciting campus happenings from last week and this week:

Men's and women's basketball both had big wins in their games against Cleveland Young State and UIC. Last tuesday campus celebrated Chinese New Year at the Student Union in addition to the Career & Internship fair. VU Dance Ensemble was this past weekend which was a hit. VU Symphony Orchestra performed on Saturday in addition to our very well attended BSO Black History Month Dinner. There were lots of movies on campus and a VuVox concert (see youtube video below).

This week is full of exciting events such as an African jewelry exbo, Multi-ethnic Regional Conference, Ballroom dance lessons, Men's basketball game, Meteorology lecture-- including a free Observatory opportunity. We also have the Homerathon II, and World Banquet. This is just the tip of the iceburg for the activities we have going on this week.

For those of you who haven't applied yet and are interested in attending Valpo, it's not too late to get your application in. We have rolling admission and are more than happy to review your application.

For those of you who have applied and are making your decisions, I encourage you to come visit campus. We can schedule an individual visit-- you can sleep in the dorms, go to class, meet with a professor, go on a tour, eat the AMAZING food, and chat with me. Just let me know what days work for you. If you'd like to come for an Admitted Student Day, we have dates in March where you can participate in the same activities I mentioned, but with other prospective students. Visiting campus, especially participating in an overnight, is an excellent way to ensure you can eat sleep and breathe on campus.

If you haven't filed the FAFSA, make sure you do so my march 1, 2010. Valparaiso's FAFSA code is: 001842.

On a side note, I came across this video and want to share. I strongly appreciate students creativity, so if you have any cool videos like this, feel free to send them my way! I'd love to check them out.

Lastly, as noted in my previous post, we are hosting a Regional College Fair on March 10 from 6:30-8:00PM. Up to 100 colleges and Universities plan to attend. Juniors, Sophomores and even Freshman, this is an excellent opportunity for you to come meet with college reps and check out everything Valpo has to offer. For more info, check out my Facebook-- Megan At Valpo.

If you ever have questions, do not hesitate to call me (219)464-5011, email me: Megan.Marrs@valpo.edu or Facebook me: Megan At Valpo.

As always, be legendary in your own way.

Valpo hits the big time in a Superbowl comercial...

Check out this video at the 44th second to catch Valparaiso University during the Sweet 16 basketball game. As many of you know, Valpo is known for our tremendous basketball team. It's pretty awesome that 10 years later we're still featured in a commercial with Will.I.AM.

Legendary.

Happy Groundhog day!

Students have been having a blast playing around in the mounds of snow, sledding, etc. Fortunately, we have not had a massive snowfall like this time last year-- *knock on wood*-- but there's still time since the little groundhog saw its shadow today.

Onto other news-- Owl City (yes, THE guys who sing Fireflies and my personal favorite, Vanilla Twilight) will be performing in our new ballroom later this month. Tickets sold out in a record 15 minutes to students and general public. I'm sure this will be a stellar performance.

** Other school related news**
It's that time of the year again-- time to file the FAFSA. "What is this FAFSA thing?," you may be thinking... FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. You may file through paper or online (most people file online). www.fafsa.ed.gov. It allows students to possibly receive grant and/or loan money from the government based on your family's finances (including tax information). Grants = money you don't have to pay back and government loans = low interest rates. Payment for government loans typically doesn't begin until after college graduation. If you're from Illinois we also have the Illinois Neighbor Grant-- just being an Illinois resident coming to Valpo makes you eligible for between 1-5k per year... just make sure you file the FAFSA!

Make sure you have this filled out by MARCH 1, 2010!

My spring travel tour will be starting up next month, so I will put this out there again-- whomever comes up with the best (has to be clean) tour title will win a prize. Please have your submissions to me by Wednesday February 25, 2010, 12:00AM CST. Winner will be notified on February 28th.

I hope your week has been outstanding! Good luck to all those coming on campus this Saturday for the music auditions!

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to call or email me. If you haven't been on campus yet or would like to come visit again, we do have Admitted Student Days in March, and we can always set up an individual visit for you as well.

Remember-- be Legendary in your own way! Giddy UP!

Valparaiso University College Fair!

Come one! Come all!

Valparaiso University is hosting a spring college fair!

When: Wednesday, March 10, 2010

6:30-8:00PM (central time)

Where: Valparaiso University's campus

Valparaiso, IN 46383

888.GO.VALPO

www.valpo.edu

*More information coming soon. Stay tuned!